Flying Under the Radar
Aug. 1, 2012
-- We've all see the headlines about gymnastics and swimming, tennis and soccer at the London Olympics. But what about all of the other 22 sports that we don't get to see much of? Follow these stunning images that capture some of the lesser-known events at the 2012 Summer Olympics.
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Weightlifting Manuel Minginfel of Federated States of Micronesia competes in the Men's 62kg Weightlifting on Day 3 of the Olympic Games in London. Men’s weightlifting was included in the first modern Olympic Games in 1896. Women's weightlifting was introduced at the Sydney 2000 Games.
Handball Begona Fernandez Molinos of Spain shoots for the goal during a women's handball match between France and Spain on July 30. Handball first appeared at the Berlin 1936 Games. Women's handball joined in at the Montreal 1976 Games.
Fencing Britta Heidemann (R) of Germany battles against A Lam Shin of Korea (L) in the Women's Epee Individual Fencing Semifinals. Heidemann won. Fencing is an ancient sport and debuted with the first modern Olympic Games, in 1896. It consisted of men’s foil and sabre events; epée appeared in the Paris Olympics in 1900. Women's fencing (foil) started in 1924, with epée added in 1996 and sabre in 2004.
Could a Cheeth catch Usain Bolt? Find out here!
Men's Field Hockey Sardar Singh of India negotiates his way past Netherlands defender Klaas Vermeulen during the Men's Hockey between The Netherlands and India on July 30. England won the first men's hockey gold in 1908, though women's field hockey didn't join the Summer Games until 1980.
Table Tennis Ning Ding of China eyes the ball during her Women's Singles Table Tennis fourth round match against Huajun Jiang of Hong Kong. Though table tennis had been on the table to become an Olympic event since 1931, it wasn't actually approved until the 1988 Games.
Sports Kicked Out of Olympics Past
Archery Im Dong-Hyun of Korea retreives arrows from the board during practice ahead of the Men's Individual Archery on Day 3 at Lord's Cricket Ground. Archery joined the Olympics in Paris in 1900, but was cut after the London 1908 Games. It was allowed to return for a single Games in 1920, then left out again. The sport was reintroduced at Munich 1972.
Canoe Slalom David Schroeder and Frank Henze of Germany compete in the Men's Canoe Double (C2) heats on July 30. A relatively new sport to the Olympics, Canoe Slalom joined the Munich 1972 Olympic Games, but wasn't made a permanent event until Barcelona in 1992.
Top 25 Iconic Olympic Moments
Sailing Stevie Morrison and Ben Rhodes of Great Britain compete in the Men's 49er Sailing in Weymouth Harbor on July 30, in Weymouth, England. Sailing has been in the Olympics for over a century, making debut in Paris in 1900 and including both men’s and women’s events. The sport has appeared at every Olympic Games since except St. Louis in 1904.
Equestrian Vittoria Panizzon of Italy stumbles on Borough Pennyz in the Individual Eventing Cross Country Equestrian, on July 30.
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